[302th]U.S. dramas distort S. Korea image//Firms gear up for new China opportunities//First Asia group atop Billboard

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<U.S. dramas distort S. Korea image>

-POLITICS

Many images of South Korea in hit American television series have been “distorted,” raising concerns over their detrimental impact on the country’s overall image, a ruling party lawmaker pointed out Thursday.

Rep. Hong Jung-wook of the Grand National Party said that shows such as “Lost,” “24” and “Crime Scene Investigation,” each of which has been watched by hundreds of millions of people, including Koreans, have shown images that are far from reality.

He made the mention during a parliamentary audit of the Foreign Ministry at the National Assembly, offering a series of examples in which the country was wrongly depicted.

One example is “Lost,” which has gained much popularity here thanks to Korean-born actress Kim Yun-jin. In it, the Han River, regarded as one of the iconic landmarks in the capital of Seoul, was described as a small stream in a village, the lawmaker said. The 1-kilometer-long bridge over the river was shown as an old small bridge, he added.

In another scene, a fishing village in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, was described as if it were located in Southeast Asia. In the scene, there is a villager wearing a traditional Vietnamese hat and a small sailboat, which can hardly be seen in Korea given its shape and size, was also shown, Hong said.

Also in the television series, a person seen drinking soju, a traditional Korean alcoholic beverage, uses a glass different from the typical Korean glass for the drink. Korean houses and Buddhist temples were also different from those commonly seen here.

“In short, it was a mix-up of elements from China, Japan and Southeast Asia,” said Hong in a press release.

In the TV series “24,” a scene where a person suffers harsh torture in Seoul is shown, which could tarnish the overall image of the capital city even though it was a fictional one, Hong said.

In “CSI,” there was a scene of a Korean community in the United States where a North Korean song regarding an allegiance to the communist state’s ruling Workers’ Party was played as background music.

“Given the enormous impact of popular culture, the images that people have about South Korea will be more similar to those represented in the popular culture rather than images related to the hosting of the Group of 20 summit or the exporting of the nuclear reactors,” Hong said.

“The Foreign Ministry has underscored superficial ‘soft power diplomacy’ and ‘culture diplomacy.’ However, it needs to make substantial efforts to leave a good national image in the minds of the world’s people.”

An Bo-seob, professor of public relations and advertising at Sookmyung Women’s University, said the country could utilize Hallyu, the pan-Asian popularity of Korean culture, to promote the positive image of the country.

“People abroad vicariously experience Korea through the dramas. Thus, the dramas play a crucial role in making images of a country for the general public,” he said.

“It would be efficient for us to highlight the advancement and development our nation has achieved through Hallyu as it would be difficult for us to review their synopses (before the dramas are aired).”

★Summary

Many images of South Korea in hit American television series have been distorted raising concerns over their detrimental impact on the country's overall image. The effect of the popular daramas could make the country look different from the reality. In this kind of situation, Korea should utilize Hallyu to promote the positive image of the country.

★Questions

1. Have you ever seen American television series before? Could you tell your group members the name of your favorite American drama and the story? And why do you like that drama?

2. How do you feel when you find the image of Korea in the American dramas? is it proud or shameful? why?

3. Do you think it is a huge impact to the country's international affairs if the popular dramas like "24" distort the reality of the country? Why?

4. If you have seen the dramas which is mentioned in the article, did you feel it is weird, because of the totally different situations from the reality?

<Firms gear up for new China opportunities>

-ECONOMY

With China set to spend the next five years concentrating on equity and balance, as well as prioritizing development of high-tech industries over manufacturing ones, Korean firms are gearing up new strategies to obtain more opportunities there.

The blueprint for the regional power’s plan for its next phase of development was announced at the fifth plenary session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party which was held Oct. 12-18 in Beijing.

The communiqu for the event mainly discussed how the country, which has become the world’s second-largest economy as a result of market reforms, can now bridge the gap between the rich and poor.

It also said the country will deviate from the current manufacturing-focused “quantitative” development into a “qualitative” one that promotes more high-tech, green industries.

The world is paying close attention to China’s latest growth plan, which is projected to bring diverse economic opportunities to other nations.

China has shown dynamic development over the past 10 years: since joining the World Trade Organization in 2001, the country has imported an average of $687 billion worth of commodities from overseas annually. It also contributed to 20 percent of the global economy and raised global trade by 9 percent of in 2008 when the global financial crisis hit the worst point.

The Chinese market is expected to grow further with the Chinese government’s policy to strongly encourage spending in the next five-year period.

Such a trend is also likely to have a significant influence on the Korean economy which depends largely on exports due to small domestic market size, and whose biggest trade partner is China.

Korean firms particularly home appliance-makers, carmakers, and builders speculated to derive great opportunities from the trend are promptly setting new business strategies.

Samsung Electronics is aiming at a bigger share of the Chinese market by pursuing localization, the expansion of product lines and diversification of their distribution channels.

The total local market size of the home appliance-maker’s Chinese headquarters stood at $12.5 billion last year, up from 2006’s $8.2 billion.

To target consumers in the rural as well as small and medium cities whose population comprises more than 80 percent of the country’s total, Samsung plans to produce not only expensive, high-end products but also affordable ones.

Also, while raising awareness of the brand through sports marketing activities and holding corporate social responsibility works there, the electronics maker will diversify its distribution channels by establishing more online and offline stores, as well as securing television home-shopping channels.

LG Electronics, meanwhile, will push “differentiation” and “best-quality” as two keywords of their marketing strategies, aiming to boost their sales in the Chinese market from $2.5 billion to $3 billion next year.

The company cited as an example its washing machine, which combines disinfecting and washing functions, saying that the idea came from the tendency of many Chinese who disinfect garments before washing because of the yellow dust and H1N1 virus.

Hyundai Motors Co. is planning on expanding its manufacturing facilities in China to reinforce its local marketing. The carmaker plans to increase its sales volume to around 1.3 million during the next few years.

Hyundai Motor will also expand its product lines there it recently launched new subcompact Verna in August, while its sister carmaker Kia Motors Corp. introduced new compact SUV Sportage last week.

Builders are also expecting new projects as China will need infrastructures to carry out its news businesses like renewable energy.

Hyundai Heavy Industries is eying the world’s second-biggest market by establishing local manufacture plants and wind power plants there.

The world’s largest producer of ship engines is expecting to finish a wind power plant with an annual production capacity of 600 megawatts in Weihai City, Shandong, and a wheel-loader plant in Taian, Shandong, by the end of this year and early next year, respectively.

SK Group, which started pushing their Chinese business by establishing its headquarters there early this year, is also expecting more prospective projects particularly in constructing infrastructures and boosting the sales of its products.

SK Networks opened a shopping and transport complex “SK Shenyang Bus Terminal” and a logistics complex in Dandong earlier this month.

★Summary

The world is paying close attention to China's latest growth plan, which is projected to bring diverse economic opportunities to other nations. To Korea, China is also the biggest trade partner. Many big companies in Korea are preparing or already setting facilities in China for expanding of product lines and diversification of their distribution channels.

★Questions

1. There is the word "The U.S. is gone, but China is rising up to the world". Do you think it is true? why? or why not?

2. Galaxy S from Samsung has not been sold that much we expected in Europe. Do you think that kind of situation will happen in China few years later? What is the reason of your opinion?

3. China is getting bigger and bigger nowadays. I am wondering what is going to be happened in the world after China gets the biggest power in the world like America now. Do you think it is almost the same to these days? why? or why not?

4. Do you think Korea also could get a big power like China? if not, the territory size is the biggest reason which makes you think like that? if or not, tell the group members why.

<First Asia group atop Billboard>

-ENTERTAINMENT

Los Angeles-based quartet Far East Movement, also known as FM, hit the top of Billboard Hot 100 with its single “Like a G6” on Thursday, pushing Bruno Mars to No. 2 after his four-week reign.

Far East Movement became the first Asian group to be at the top of the Billboard chart. The group was created in 2003 and its four members are all Asian: two Korean Americans, Prohgress (Noh Ji-hwan), J-Splif (Jung Jae-won), a Chinese/Japanese American, Kev Nish (Nev Nishimura), and a Filipino American DJ Virman.

They all grew up together in Los Angeles. After graduating from high school they started taking music more seriously, performing at shows in LA bars and clubs.

The name of the group shows their Asian background and their will to introduce Asian hip hop to the U.S. where the hip hop culture is dominated by African Americans.

They achieved fame when their first single “Round Round” was featured in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006. The song appeared both on the movie soundtrack and videogame. They have also been featured on various shows including CSI: Miami, CSI: NY and MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew with “Girls On the Dance Floor.”

FM joined the Korean hip hop group Epik High in their “Map the Soul” tour throughout the U.S. in 2009. They were recently announced as the opening act for Lady Gaga’s “The Monster Bell Tour” in April this year.

FM visited Seoul once to promote their album in 2007. Prohgress Noh Ji-hwan said in an interview that he wants to introduce FM’s music to his home country Korea and looks forward to meeting Korean fans more often.

★Summary

Far East Movement, known as FM is nominated 1st Billboard Hot 100 with single "Like a G6". It is the first time that Asian group hit the top of Billboard chart. In their music, we could see the Asian background and know what is Asian hip hop which is mixed with lots of cultures. FM is doing good these days by being invited to Lady Gaga's opening ceremony and etc.

★Questions

1. What kind of music do you like? Do you have any favorite musician in foreign country?

2. Billboard Hot 100 is the most public confidential statistics in Music industry. So, to be nominated in there is very honorable for singers. FM hit the top of it and is doing a good job in the music world. Do you think it is just luck, or the begging of the change the music world which has dominated by American singers?

3. Have you ever heard the songs of FM? if you have, what makes this group be the first in America's conservative music world?

-THE ARTICLES FROM THE KOREA HERALD

10.30. TN.doc

[김일목]

수고하셨어요 ^^

[지훈 [St. Paul Phoenix]]

수고 하셨습니다.ㅋ

[근아(Alice)]

와우! 재빠른 주제 업로드 멋져요! ㅋㅋ 이번엔 반드시 읽고 피드백을..!!!>0<

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[민지(Min)]

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이번주 이건가?

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주제가 세개네?

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휴

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지금부터 공부해가야지

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노래도 들어봐야지

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노래도 듣고 공부도해야지

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이러다 날새겠ㄷㅏ 정말...

[세2(Mckenzi)]

푸푸푸푸쵸핸졉 얘야예야 푸푸푸쵸핸졉 푸쵸핸쪕 바를증ㄴ더아이즈 라이ㅓ... 라커쥐씩쓰